Apparatus for melting snow and ice



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. BRISOOE. APPARATUS FOR MELTING snow AND 10B.

No. 406,333. Patented July 2, 1889 N PEYERS. Pfiwhulhngnphen Washingwn, D.C.

(No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

W. BRISOOE. APPARATUS FOR-MELTING SNOW AND ICE. No. 406,333. Patented JulyZ, 1889 UNITED STATES.

ATENT' O FICE.

\VILLIAM BR ISCOE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR MELTING SNOW ANDICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ?atent No. 406,333, dated July 2, 1889. Application filed January 3, 1889- Serial No. 295,308. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Bruscon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Melting Snow and Ice, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a device which can be readily transported through the streets of a city or town and which will serve to rapidly melt snow orice shoveled into the same.

I11 the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a snow-melting apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of part of the machine; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 3.

A represents a substantial frame, preferably of iron or steel, and provided with runnlng-gear of any suitable character, so that the frame can be readily transported from place to place.

Suitably mounted upon this frame is a furnace or gas-generator l3 and a tank D, the latter containing a secondary furnace or gas-distributor F, described hereinafter.

The furnace B consists of an outer casing, preferably of metal, and lined with fire-brick or other refractory material, this furnace having a grate a, supporting the fuel, and a closed ash-pit I), provided at one or both sides with a door b,forth.e removal of ashes. Near the top of the furnace there is an opening in one side of the same, which opening is provided with a door (I, and this door and door-frame are surrounded by a casing f, having a closefitting door or cover f. (See Fig. 3.)

The top of the furnace consists of a hollow dome-shaped cap or cover g, and both the chamber within this cap or cover and that within the casing around the feed-door are in communication with the ash-pit through a pipe 72,which has valves h, for a purpose described hereinafter.

The upper portion of the furnace communicates through a pipe or passage '6 with the upper portion of the furnace F in the tank D, the latter being in the form of a cylindrical stack outwardly flared or cone-shaped at the base and having the sides of this outwardlyflared or cone-shaped portion perforated, as shown in Fig. 1, the top of the stack being closed by a counterbalanced valve k. Near COVGl.

In the operation of the apparatus both the furnace B an d the furnace F are supplied with fuel, and when the fuel is ignited the ash-pit Z) of the furnace B is put in communication with a rotating fan or other equivalent device, which may be mounted either upon the frame A or may constitute part of a separate vehicle to be used in connection with the snow-melting device. This blast of air passing through the furnace B causes the generation of gas which is carried over into the furnace F, and in passing through the incandescent fuel therein is ignited and escapes from the openings in the conical lower portion of the furnace F in the form of jets of flame, which are directed outward and upward toward the top of the tank. Snow or ice deposited in the tank will therefore be rapidly melted by the heat of the ignited gas escaping from the furnace F, the water due to the melting of the snow or ice passing off through the opening on into the gutters, and thence to the sewers. The air-chamber surrounding the feed-door of the furnace and the air-chambered cap or dome of the furnace prevent the escape of gas from the furnace at either of these points, and in the event of any imperfection in the feed-door or in the casing of the dome the air, being under considerable pressure, will escape into the furnace and serve to aid in promoting the combustion of the gases generated from the fuel. In fact, it may be advisable in many cases to perforate the feed-door for this purpose, as shown, and to provide the cap or cover of the furnace with a discharge-pipe 3, whereby air may be led either into the chamber around the feeddoor, as shown in Fig. 1, or directly into the furnace itself.

The counterbalanced cover It for the secondary furnace F serves as a safety-valve to permit the escape of gas from said furnace before the pressure in the same becomes dangerous, the cap or cover being also removed when it becomes necessary to recharge the furnace with fuel.

The opening '21 near the bottom of the tank D is intended for the introduction of a suitable implement, whereby dirt which may collect on the bottom of the tank may be readily removed therefrom through the opening.

By outwardly flaring the lower portion of the furnace F the snow or ice is supported thereon while the ignited gas is directed outwardly and upwardly through the same, so that the rapid and thorough melting of the snow or ice is insured. This feature of construction may be adopted with advantage in cases where the structure F is simply a gasdistributer, instead of a supplementary furnace.

In the patent granted to myself and Christopher Gallagher on the 31st day of March, 1885, is shown a snow-melter comprising a furnace, a melting-tank, and a gas'distributer therein; but said gas-distributer differed essentially in construction from that which I now employ, and was not intended for use as a supplementary furnace.

I therefore claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, in a snow-melting device, of the wheeled frame, the furnace or gas-generator, and snow-receiving tank carried by said wheeled frame, and a secondary furnace located within said tank and comm unicating with the main furnace or gas-generator, said secondary furnace extending down into the lower portion of the snow-receiving tank and having an opening through which fuel can be introduced, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the wheeled frame and the gas generator and snow-receiving tank mounted thereon, with a gas-distributer located within the tank and communicating with the gas-generator, said distributer having an upright conical and perforated lower portion, whereby the snow is supported and the gas directed upwardly and outwardly through the same, substantiallv as specified.

3. The combination of the wheeled frame, the snow-receiving tank, the furnace having a gasdistributing pipe in said tank, the closing door for the feed-opening of the furnace, the casing inclosing said door and forming an airchamber, and means for supplying air to said chamber, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the wheeled frame, the snow-receiving tank, the furnace having a gas-distributing pipe in said tank, the firedoor, the air-chamber surrounding the same, the chambered cap or cover, the closed ashpit, and a communication between said ashpit and the chambers around the fire-door and within the cap or cover, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nam e to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVILLIAM BRISCOE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. OoNNEn, HARRY SMITH. 

